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Your Car is Easy Target for Hackers, Warn Auto Engineers

Automakers are in a race to install the latest digital gizmos in your next car. However, according to a new survey by product developers, IT professionals, and automotive engineers, your next car can be an easy target for hackers. Nearly 84% of those surveyed said that automakers are falling behind in responding to security threats.

The warnings may shed light on on a real incident that happened recently. In 2015, a Jeep Cherokee was attacked simply using a laptop, as attackers sat down comfortably miles away. The impact in such cases can be enormous. The attacker in this incident was able to control steering, brakes, and transmission as well.

This survey has come at a right time perhaps. More and more consumers are lining up to buy connected cars in the near future. It is estimated that 65% of new car sales in 2020 will go hand-in-hand with connected technology.

The automakers on their part are taking some precautions as well. For example, in the Cherokee Jeep case, Fiat, the automaker issued a warning for a software update aimed at fixing the software vulnerability.

Auto Industry is not ready to take on hackers

The FBI cautions drivers to upgrade their software constantly. However, it is questionable whether this could end all risks associated with connected technology. According to 63% of surveyed respondents, less than half of software and hardware is tested for vulnerabilities.

The automakers seem to be taking note of the growing threats at the least. Automakers are going public in efforts to assure customers of the safety of connected cars. Recently, Blackberry, a prominent cell manufacturer has jumped into automotive safety. The company has installed safety software QNX in over 120 million cars.

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